CFP: Unintended Consequences: the Paradox of Technological Potential (IEEE Potentials)

IEEE Potentials is seeking contributions to a special issue guest edited by Ramona Pringle, Katina Michael and MG Michael. The theme of the issue is: “Unintended Consequences: the Paradox of Technological Potential”.

We are looking for critical reviews and analyses, case examples, commentaries, interviews, opinion pieces, stories, projections and science fiction narratives from researchers, futurists, practitioners and storytellers, examining the hidden implications of our ever-digital lives.

While we are open to predictive scenarios of what the near future will bring, we are also looking for contemporary analysis as well. After all, we are living at a time where the line between science fiction and reality is blurring: our relationships are mediated, our memories are archived, and our identities are public documents. What are the implications of rapidly advancing technology on government (e.g. military drones), organizations (e.g. data analytics), and our personal lives (e.g. wearables)?

With all great innovation comes responsibility; an inevitable dark side, and with the exponential growth of technology, the window within which we can examine the ethics and consequences of our adoption of new technologies becomes increasingly narrow. Instead of fear mongering, how do we adjust our course, as a society, before it is too late? We are looking for disruptive perspectives, and articles that present solutions and blueprints, while questioning the status quo. These may take the form of precautionary tales, scenario-based planning and action, assessment impacts and response, design principles, standards, regulations, and laws, organisational policies and approaches to corporate social responsibility, externality fines and penalties for breaches, advocacy, and the formation of specialised global NGOs.

IEEE Potentials is interested in manuscripts that deal with theory, practical applications, or new research. They can be tutorial in nature.

Submissions may consist of either full articles or shorter, opinion-oriented essays. When submitting an article, please remember:

? All manuscripts should be written at the level of the student audience.

? Articles without equations are preferred; however, a minimum of equations is acceptable.

? List no more than 12 references at the end of your manuscript. No embedded reference numbers should be included in the text. If you need to attribute the source of key points or quotes, state names in the text and give the full reference at the end.

? Limit figures to ten or fewer, and include captions for each.

? Articles should be approximately 1,500–4,000 words in length; essays should be 900–1,000 words.

? Include an individual e-mail address and a brief biography of four to six lines for each author.

All submitted manuscripts are evaluated by the IEEE Potentials reviewer team and graded in accordance with the above guidelines. Articles may be required to go through multiple revisions depending on reviewers’ grades and comments.

Timeline:

CFP distribution: 30 November 2015

Expression of interest (abstract submission): 8 January 2016

Feedback to authors: 15 January 2016

Final paper submission: 15 March 2016

Proof back to authors: 15 April 2016

Publication Date: July/August 2016 (vol. 35, no. 4)

Guest Editors

+Ramona Pringle is an Assistant Professor at the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University.

*Katina Michael is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong.

*MG Michael is an honorary Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong.